The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-20
WON HER AT POKER.
BOW TEXAS TOM WON HIS
PRETTY BRIDE.
After a Long and Hot Flight at the
National Card Game Texas Tom
Captures a Woman From Her
From the San Francisco Examiner.

paving San Francisco visit Day by day
he is seen passing up and down Market
street, accompanied by very pretty wo
man, whom ha calls Ray, and who seems
very much ints' -5ed in Tom. The latter il
about q years old now, but veteran in ex
perience of the shady sort. Just at present
he is atop the heapand is wearing diamonds.
His baptismal name is Thomas ?. Red
mond, but that doesn't make any differ
ence-he is Texas Tom to all men. Nobody
hereabouts knows the girl, beyond the fact
that she is a brunette from the head waters,
has pair of saucy eyes and cuts as pretty a
figure as need be- The other day an old
Western sport turned up and spun this in
teresting yarn:
Texas Tom literally won that girl you
lust saw him with, but without sword or
courtship. In plain words, he won her at
poker after one of the longest and hottest
sessions ever saw over round table.
About three years ago slick short-card
gambler named William Townsend took q
professional tour through the South. In a
Florida hamlet he encounted a beautiful
girl of 16, who accepted his fash for genuine
and married him against the will of
her parents, well-to-do and
respectable people. Townsend showered
1HWeIfY ana IdlIIlelJ Oli MS fLilil VI
but she could not descend to his level at first,
and the GOODNESS that arose between them
soon after the hasty marriage was rapidly
widening into a breach leading to Separa-
ton. when Texas encountered them i'll st.
Paul Mimi. little over two months ago.
He roomed in the same house, and after
few chance meetings Tom and Townsend's
wife found themselves IN love with each
other.
Eight weeks ago last Monday afternoon
Texas, Townsend and four others sat down
in Redmond's rooms to play poker. The
game was small at first, BIC ante, but the
stakes rapidly swelled to figures that male
it exceedingly interesting. Hour after hour
wore away and heightened into plurality
of days, and Texas won considerable money.
One player after another dropped out,
physically or financially exhausted Others
dropped in and dropped out, until final y az
the end of three days only Texas and Town
send remained. The pair ate and drank be-
tween the deals, played standing up and did
everything but sleep.
After the second DAY the game began to be
a sort OF a show, and hundreds flocked in to
watch the players and calculate how long
nature could stand the strain.
In three days Townsend had lost "a 900, all
his available cash, but he begged for short
grace, which Texas granted.
1t was midnight. Texas stole an hours
nap on the table, while Townsend made q
hurried trip to his rooms. His wife was
asleep, and it was an easy matter to carry
off her jewelry, mostly diamonds, and ag-
gregating in value 81 POO.
While she slept on, unconscious of her loss,
Townsend returned woke up his opponent
and asked for an allowance on the gems
Texas sleepily advanced him 81 900 and
play was resumed.
1t was purely a scientific game, each man
being too clever for the other TO dare at
tempt any crooked work.
All the next day the play continued in
the presence of a crowd, attracted by its
protraction. Fortune seemed to smile on
Townsend for awhile, but the tide turned
toward noon and at the end of the fourth
day of the sitting Texas had him cleaned
out
SIS that enough2n he asked quietly, gath
ering up his winnings.
''No, it isn't sullenly returned the de
feated gambler.
''All right; what have you got to betg'
"You seem stuck on that woman of mine
--what'll you bet against herr" was the as
founding proposition advanced by the
financially wrecked gambler, the fever for
play burning at an uncomfortable heat in
his veins.
Even Tom was dazed, but only for min
ute.
''Make it freeze-out," said Tom, land I'll
go you the diamonds and 81 900 and throw
in my girl to boot
The offer was accepted. A valuation of
$50 each was placed on the chips, aggre
eating over 81 600. They were then care
fully divided into two piles, and it was
agreed that each should ante, and that all
limit should be removed.
How do ! know I'll get the girl if l win
herr asked Texas. as the cards were about
to be dealt,
Better ask herr growled Townsend; II
only play my claim on her against your
money. You'll have to look to her for pos
session.
A note was hurriedly written to Mrs.
Townsend, outlining the proposition, and
asking her sanction.
TEL the gentleman" ran the answer she
gave the messenger, that | should be
pleased to be separated from Mr. Townsend,
but that MIR. Redmond can only claim the
stakes by going through the marriage cere-
mony.n
Judge" Flanagan, an influential politi-
clan, was present, and after hurried con-
sultation, Townsend made written admis-
sion of ground for a divorce, on which
Flanagan said he could procure a separa-
ton in a very short time.
The announcement, with an engagement
ring and Texas Toms compliments, was
sent back to Mrs. Townsend. who returned
the following note:
Thomas Redmond:
Under such conditions l hope and pray you
will win RAY TOWNSEND.
1.-The game is made, gentlemen" said
Tom, with as much of smile as loss of
sleep would permit to circulate ON his hag-
gard face, IDEAL the cards.
Townsend dealt the cards and the novel
game commenced.
Texas captured the ante chip and three
more with it ON three deuces against tens
up
'+She's minei" he cried II always win
when l rake the first pot"
Townsend broke out with a torrent of
oaths, and the pair nearly came to blows,
only the Intervention of the bystanders
causing the game to 60 on.
The prospective widower played a hard
game. He was wary and careful, and
again he won for time, but again luck
turned against him, and his costly chips
melted into the hands of the prospective
groom. With the turn of the tide Town
send lost his nerve, and in the double ante
and freeze-out Texas GOODNESS and bluff told
heavily. The $50 bits of ivory Travelled
across the table one by one and seldom came
back.
In fourteen hours Townsend called for q
sight for his last $50, and showed down
three kings before the draw.
Texas had aces up.
The remaining monarch failed TO leave
the deck but third ace Travelled into